Ballotpedia: Claire Valdez

Claire is a union organizer with UAW Local 2110 and has served as the unit chair for support staff at Columbia University.

Claire Valdez's run for member of assembly is her first campaign for public office.

Candidate website

Supports raising the minimum wage to $25.

Supports amending the state constitution to prohibit forced labor in state prisons, ensuring voluntary labor is fairly compensated, and establishing a prison labor board to enforce these changes.

Believes in addressing low wages for childcare workers, noting that "half of all childcare workers in NYC earn wages low enough to qualify for public assistance."

Supports reclassifying gig workers as employees to ensure labor law protections and the right to unionize.

- Supports raising the minimum wage to $25.
- Supports amending the state constitution to prohibit forced labor in state prisons, ensuring voluntary labor is fairly compensated, and establishing a prison labor board to enforce these changes.
- Believes in addressing low wages for childcare workers, noting that "half of all childcare workers in NYC earn wages low enough to qualify for public assistance."
- Supports reclassifying gig workers as employees to ensure labor law protections and the right to unionize.

Economy

Supports the Bucks for Boilers Act to help New Yorkers upgrade to energy-efficient, fossil fuel-free heating systems, with a focus on assisting low-income households and creating union jobs.

Supports the Bucks for Boilers Act to help New Yorkers upgrade to energy-efficient, fossil fuel-free heating systems.

Supports the REACH program, which automatically discounts energy bills for low- or moderate-income customers in disadvantaged communities, and plans to ensure its proper implementation.

- Supports the Bucks for Boilers Act to help New Yorkers upgrade to energy-efficient, fossil fuel-free heating systems.
- Supports the REACH program, which automatically discounts energy bills for low- or moderate-income customers in disadvantaged communities, and plans to ensure its proper implementation.

Energy & the Environment

Believes childcare is a vital service that requires public investment.

Supports universal healthcare and believes healthcare should not be influenced by insurance companies.

Supports abortion and believes New York should protect and expand access to abortion care and comprehensive reproductive and sexual health care.

- Believes childcare is a vital service that requires public investment.
- Supports universal healthcare and believes healthcare should not be influenced by insurance companies.
- Supports access to abortion.

Healthcare

As of September 19, 2024, Claire Valdez’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Voting & Elections

Supports expanding NYC's speed camera program to promote safe driving and pedestrian safety, and to reduce biased traffic enforcement by the NYPD.

- Supports expanding NYC's speed camera program to promote safe driving and pedestrian safety, and to reduce biased traffic enforcement by the NYPD.

Public Safety

Supports passing legislation that mandates New York schools to provide comprehensive, LGBTQ+ inclusive sex education and establish policies protecting LGBTQ+ students from harassment, bullying, and discrimination.

Supports fully funded public schools and universal childcare.

- Supports passing legislation that mandates New York schools to provide comprehensive, LGBTQ+ inclusive sex education and establish policies protecting LGBTQ+ students from harassment, bullying, and discrimination.
- Supports fully funded public schools and universal childcare.

Education

Supports passing Good Cause Eviction to protect tenants, advocates for timely public housing repairs, and plans to treat housing as a human right by creating a Social Housing Development Authority for affordable, union-built housing in New York.

- Supports passing Good Cause Eviction to protect tenants, advocates for timely public housing repairs, and plans to treat housing as a human right by creating a Social Housing Development Authority for affordable, union-built housing in New York.

Housing & Urban Development

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Claire Valdez

Claire Valdez is a union organizer with UAW Local 2110 and has served as the unit chair for support staff at Columbia University.

Claire Valdez's run for Member of Assembly is her first campaign for public office.

Supports labor rights for incarcerated people.

Supports the encouragement of a strong labor movement.

Supports the EmPIRE Act to allow whistleblower lawsuits for labor violations and wage theft, even if not personally affected, and plans to use penalties from employers to fund Department of Labor resources and staff.

Believes in reducing dependence on corporate monopolies for energy.

Supports empowering the New York Power Authority and transitioning to 100% democratically owned renewable energy to lower bills and create a cleaner, healthier New York.

Supports the Just Energy Transition Act to phase out polluting fossil fuel plants.

Supports the Build Public Renewables Act (BPRA), believing it will transform New York's climate, health, infrastructure, and economy by reducing energy bills and creating union jobs.

Said, "We don’t take fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate money. We’re supported by regular people like you."

Believes in addressing acute mental health needs outside of jails.

Believes in "treating substance use addiction as a public health need."

Supports building community hubs staffed by city employees to provide mental health treatment, job readiness programs, and housing assistance.

Believes in effective office management to support constituents' needs.

Believes in facilitating consistent and transparent communication with staff regarding decisions and decision-making roles.

Believes in effective office management by setting clear directions for staff, monitoring progress, and ensuring efficient task and project completion to support the office’s goals.

Supports the role of liaisons in managing staff, improving office systems, and leading community affairs, while advising Assembly Members in developing relationships and achieving strategic goals.

Believes in managing relationships with various stakeholders, including elected officials, state agencies, community organizations, and labor unions, to ensure fair voting rights and elections.

Aims to ensure transparency by making workflows clear and information easy to find and understand.

Believes in fair and accessible voting rights and elections.

Believes in addressing the "drug crisis" in the community.

Supports passing the Treatment Not Jail Act to expand mental health and drug court diversion programs.

Plans to advocate for street safety improvements.

Plans to advocate for NYC DOT to implement safety projects protecting pedestrians and cyclists, including in Ridgewood.

Supports expanding community violence interruption programs, which rely on relationships between neighbors to reduce crime and gun violence by as much as 30 percent in cities across the country.

Believes in investing in programs that strengthen neighborhoods to reduce crime long-term.

Believes school should be "a place of acceptance and discovery for students, not a trauma for them to overcome."

Believes housing is "a fundamental necessity of life" essential for meaningful societal participation.

Believes rent prices are too high and rent stabilized apartments are disappearing too quickly.

Supports expanding rent stabilization in New York City to maintain community stability and provide long-term security for working families, as more apartments are falling out of stabilization and exacerbating the housing crisis.

Supports the development of a safe, reliable, and efficient transportation system.

Believes access to affordable housing is essential for meaningful societal participation.

Supports creating a Social Housing Development Authority to build and preserve permanently affordable housing that is publicly owned, tenant-controlled, union-built, and climate-resilient.

As of September 23, 2024, Claire Valdez’s website did not contain information on this issue.

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